From the Director's Chair
Last week I was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Friends of Cheyenne Caňon. The topic I chose was Helen Hunt Jackson and her love for the caňon. Helen Hunt Jackson-or HH, as she was known-is the most important literary figure in the history of the Pikes Peak Region. Her connection to the caňon survives in the name of Helen Hunt Falls.
It had been a while since I sat down to read her work, and while preparing for the program, I found these closing lines in her 1879 poem, Cheyenne Mountain:
That thou were great when Homer was not born.
And ere thou change all human song shall die!
The phrase celebrates the enduring beauty of the mountain. This sense of permanency had a particularly important meaning to HH, whose life was marked by a relentless series of tragedy, separation, and loss up until the time she moved to Colorado Springs in 1873. Cheyenne Mountain and neighboring North Cheyenne Canyon gave her comfort and directly influenced her outlook on life. I think all of this comes out in her writing, which has a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude in the years following her arrival. This poem got me thinking about the permanent nature of our museum. "In perpetuity," is a phrase that comes up often around here. Our job is to protect the Museum's collection so that the stories embodied in our artifacts can be shared with many generations yet to come.
It wasn't all that long ago that there was a tangible threat to our ability to uphold this public trust. We were able to get through that crisis, and like HH over a century ago, we now have a renewed sense of energy and determination. I am very optimistic about our future and am certain that the children that visit the Museum today will be bringing their grandchildren here when I am long gone.
This transition has only been possible due to our many supporters. You have been so generous with your time, encouragement, and financial support. I think it is important for you to know that each of you have made a world of difference in helping to ensure the permanency of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.
On behalf of all of us at the Museum we wish the happiest of holidays and the warmest wishes for 2012.
Matt Mayberry
Director, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
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New in Collections~
In October the Museum received a donation of a ca. 1890 platform spring wagon from the Donald R. Shanks family. The wagon was purchased new by Donald Shank's great- grandfather Joseph Pettigrew. Mr. Pettigrew was born in 1828 in Ireland. He served in the Civil War and was discharged on November 18, 1864 at the age of 36. He homesteaded on land 6 miles east of Monument, CO in the 1880s; he grew potatoes and raised cattle.
Pulled by a single horse, a platform spring wagon was used for basic transportation of people and goods. There is seating for a driver and three passengers. The seats are adjustable to provide appropriate leg room, and an elaborate system of springs made for a more comfortable ride. A hinged tailgate, featuring a brass manufacturer's plate, aided in loading cargo from the rear.
The wagon was shipped from the manufacturer, Enterprise Carriage Manufacturing Company of Miamisburg , Ohio, to Denver, CO via rail. It was purchased by Mr. Pettigrew and driven to his ranch near Monument, and was later used by Mr. Pettigrew's son, James Pettigrew.
This wagon is remarkable in that it has been owned by the same family since it was purchased new around 1890. It still retains its original paint and upholstery. Future plans call for some basic cleaning, conservation and an interpretive panel about the history of the wagon and its owners.
Come see the wagon in the Museum's 3rd Floor Lobby!
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The Season of Gratitude
As the year wraps up, we at CSPM are truly grateful for the generous support shown by all of you during our first full year as a nonprofit museum with an active fundraising campaign. Your gifts have helped provide new exhibits and expanded programming to a growing number of visitors.
This past year, we asked you to embrace a new Museum membership program, attend our first Gift of History breakfast, support our building restoration, and contribute to our yearend campaign through the mail and online through Give! 2011. Our fundraising efforts have helped successfully bridge the gap between funding needed for operations and what is provided by the City. Please know that your generosity is both deeply appreciated and thoughtfully used in support of Museum activities.
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Book Review~
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History By S. C. Gwynne
Coinciding with the opening of Cultural Crossroads: Highlights from the Museum Collection, we would like to suggest a book relating to the rich history of the American Indian. S. C. Gwynne's Empire of the Summer Moon greatly contributes to American history as it is one of the first thrilling accounts of the forty-year battle between the Comanche Indians of the southern plains and incoming whit e settlers over control of the American West. In this book, Gwynne captures the history and culture of the Comanche Indians, a tribe who is often charged as being the most powerful tribe in the United States. While chronicling the rise and fall of the Comanches, the fascinating story of Cynthia Ann Parker is also told. Parker, a white woman who was captured by the Comanches as a young girl, gave birth to a mixed-blood son named Quanah, who would become the last and greatest chief of the Comanche Indians.
According to Gwynne, the Comanches determined the opening of the American West to white settlement. Comanche mastery in their often violent and war-like efforts to keep the Spanish, the French, and white pioneers from expanding westward prevented the development of the nation. Gwynne, a journalist for The Dallas Morning News and previous senior editor for Time, presents an intriguing historical narrative exploring not only the Comanches and other American Indians but he includes other fascinating facets of American history to create a larger context and frame of reference for readers. As a winner of various book awards and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Empire of the Summer Moon is a must-read for anyone interested in nineteenth-century America.
This book is now available in the Docent library.
Submitted by Brooke Traylor (Scribner: New York, 2010)
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Support the Museum Today!
CSPM is participating in the CS Indy's Give! campaign for the first time this year, and the results have been exciting to watch! Over $6,000 in donations to the museum has come in since November 1st--help us reach $10,000 by the end of December! If we finish in the top three arts-and-culture organizations, we will win a challenge for addi tional matching dollars! Dollars raised doesn't matter, it's the total number of all donors and donors under 40 that we're competing for, so even a $10 contribution really helps! Give today by clicking the Give! logo.
Another great way to support the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum? Become a Member! Membership levels start as low as $30 for Individuals, with discounts for military, seniors and students. It's a great way to support the CSPM, and receive "members-only" benefits at every level. For more information, call 385-5633.
You can also make a yearend donation to the Museum right now by clicking here to go our giving web site--powered by Guidestar and Network for Good. Thank you for your support!
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For more information about any of our programs or services, please call the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, (719) 385-5990 or go to our web site www.cspm.org.
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 MARK THESE IMPORTANT DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR Saturday 1/14 2:00pm Pikes Peak Regional History Lecture - Nancy Bathke & Brenda Hawley present their lecture on Early Women Photographers in the Pikes Peak region. $5 suggested donation FREE for members Saturday 1/28 10:30-11:30am
NEW Story Time for kids! Featuring Jingle Dancer by author Cynthia Leitich Smith, a special tour of our new Cultural Crossroads exhibit, and a craft project. |  | |
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MUSEUM STORE
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Holiday Gift-Giving Guide
Available next week: "Colorado Springs has one of the most diverse and extensive parks systems in the country. Built upon the amazing vision of its founder and early leaders, it includes such gems as Garden of the Gods, North Cheyenne Canon, and Palmer Park, as well as a system of parks, trails, and open space second to none. Recent years have put our parks in jeopardy and Nancy Lewis' book shows us why we must preserve this legacy that was given to us by so many." --Katherine Loo, Past President of the Nature Conservancy for Colorado, former Colorado Springs City Council member, and award-winning philanthropist and conservationist. | |
Members receive a 20% holiday discount; spend $50 and receive additional 5% off!.
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STOP BY THE MUSEUM STORE TODAY!
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Matt Mayberry
Director
385-5636
Leah Davis Witherow
Curator of History
385-5649
Dave Ryan
Registrar
385-5634
Cari Karns
Development Coordinator
385-5633
Kelly Murphy
Exhibit Designer
Megan Poole
Museum Educator
385-5631
mpoole@springsgov.com
John Craddock
Security Officer
385-5632
Carol Denning
Museum Store Manager
385-5643
Adam Schnoes Maintenance Tech 385-5642 Brooke Traylor Archives Assistant 385-5650 Kay C. Mast Volunteer Coordinator 385-5653 Haley Davis Events Coordinator 385-5653 | |
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Go the CSPM's Facebook wall to see the latest news on exhibits, programming, and more!
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